About Us

FOCIS Purpose

To make healthy food and drinks a priority in every school community in Australia.

FOCIS Mission

FOCIS will support, promote, facilitate, and empower school communities, state and territory Associations and Networks, food industry and governments to enable stakeholders to make decisions that result in healthy food
environments and healthy school food services by providing tools, resources and information.

FOCIS Objects

The objects of the Association are:

To improve the health of Australian school children by advocating for the role of school food services in creating a whole of school approach to healthy food environments that are consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines; and

To advocate and support:

a). school governing bodies
b). state canteen associations and networks
c). governments (federal and state)
d). industry and
e). the broader community

on the value of nutritious and healthy food services.

Download a copy of the FOCIS Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

Stakeholders and partners

FOCIS members, including Canteen Associations and Networks across Australia
Canteens, including food services operated in schools and the broader community
Schools, including canteen staff, Principals, teachers, parents and students
Food industry
Government and non-government bodies with similar objects that work with schools and the broader community to promote nutritious food choices.

FOCIS Membership and meetings

The benefits of FOCIS membership are detailed under three pillars:

Advocating for school canteens
Working in partnership
Education.

FOCIS meetings are generally held every eight weeks from February to November (minimum once per quarter), via teleconference. These meetings include the Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled between July and December. Membership applications may be presented at any time and will be tabled at the next scheduled meeting. Memberships and Committee of Management positions are renewed annually at the AGM. FOCIS membership is currently free of charge.

Join us for our Annual General Meeting

Date – Tuesday 6 December 2022 9.00am WST
Via Zoom/Webex, please email admin@focis.com.au to RSVP, the link will be provided

For more information about the many and varied benefits of FOCIS membership and membership categories see the membership application form.

FOCIS Constitution

Download the FOCIS Constitution.

News and Events

Whole Grain Week

As part of Whole Grain Week 2023, the Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council has developed an on-line recipe book full of delicious ways to increase the whole grains in your diet. The recipes can be download here.
Advocacy and Communications Officer

FOCIS is currently looking for dynamic Advocacy and Communications Officer to join our team. If you would like to be part of an organisation advocating for the role of school food services in creating a whole school approach to healthy food environments, this could be the position for you. This role is for 7.5-10 hours per week and you will work from home, so can be located anywhere in Australia. For more information see our advert on SEEK or contact us on admin@focis.com.au.
Creating a whole school approach to healthy eating

The whole school approach to healthy eating is an evidence based approach that works to develop a healthy food culture in schools that positively impacts the eating habits of students. For more information see this recent article written by FOCIS and published in Education Australia.
Queensland's Best Tuckshop Recipes

Congratulations to Southport State School Tuckshop Convener, Angelique Scarpignato, for winning the 2023 Queensland Tuckshops Recipe of the Year competition with her recipe for Butter Chicken.
More information about the competition and this healthy recipe can be found in a recent article by the Bursar.
Food-EPI Australia reports for all jurisdictions

Deakin University have completed their reports for the Food-EPI Australia 2022 initiative. These are now available online.
The Federal Government report was released first as part of the International Congress on Obesity in October 2022, and the jurisdictional reports progressively released, in conjunction with NGOs in each jurisdiction.
Education Australia - Canteen Food and Beverage

The March edition of Education Australia contains some interesting articles on the importance of children eating a healthy diet at school. This article on School Food Services - providing a nutritious food services to support student learning, is written by the FOCIS Executive. The article discusses the importance of a whole school approach to healthy eating and the role school canteens play in supporting student health and wellbeing and the impact a healthy diet can have on brain development and academic achievement.
There is also an article from Nutrition Australia, ACT's senior dietitian, Leanne Elliston, on how staying well-nourished and hydrated at school impacts students energy and concentration levels.
School lunch boxes should be practical and affordable

The pressure to make the perfect school lunch box is on the rise but with parents busier than ever it is important to remember that healthy lunches do not have to be unwrapped or organic. This article from the ABC shows how Queensland tuckshops are providing healthy affordable lunches that children love to eat.
Fact Sheets and Position Statements

FOCIS has developed a suite of fact sheets and position statements that cover topics such as 'Make money not waste' and 'Sweeteners', check them out today.